Clasp-fastening for elastic stays in corsets



(N0 Model.)

T, H. BALL. CLASP FASTENING FOR ELASTIC STAYS INGOBSETS. No. 298,544. Patented May 13, 18.84.

M v M6 M @WW N. PETERS, Photo-Ulhagnphcr. wl shingtnn llll Srarns ArsNr Fries.

THOMAS H. BALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, SIMON FLORSHEIM, AND HERMAN PBENZLAUEB, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP-FASTENING FOR ELASTIC STAYS IN CORSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,544, dated May 13, 1884. Application filed September 13, 1883. (So model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS II. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Glasp-Fastenings for Elastic Stays in Corsets, which is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of a section of an elastic gore with my improved fastening applied; Fig. 2, a plan view of the blank from which the fastening is formed, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the fastening,

detached and on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the fastening and end of the spiral spring; Fig. 5, asectional view of the fastening, taken 011 the line m, Fig. 3, and still further enlarged; and Fig. 6, a similar 2 view on the same scale, taken on the line y,

Fig. 3.

My invention relates to elastic gores for corsets, &c.such, for example, as those shown in the Letters Patent of Simon Florsheim, Nos. 238,100 and 238,101, both dated February 22, 1881 and the object of my present improvement is to provide a suitable metal fastening for the ends of the elastic wire coil, which are used in such gores, the improvement being 0 especially adapted for use in connection with such gores as are described and shown in the Patent No. 238,100. In this style of gore the coiled-wire spring is continuous, and heretofore the ends of the spring have been secured by sewing them to the fabric to which they are applied. The stretching of the springs, however, in use has a tendency to break away this stitching, and the ends of the springs frequently become loosened, thereby impairing 0 the action of the elastic gore; and my present improvement is intended to obviate this difficulty.

I will proceed to describe in detail the 0011- struction and operation of my fastening, and

4 5 will then point out definitely in the claims the special improvements I believe to be new and wish to protect by Letters Patent.

' In'the drawings, A represents the metallic fastening, and constitutes my present improvemcnt. This fastening, when completed, is substantially of the form of a T-head, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the body or vertical portion of which is composed of two parts,

a, joined at the top and free at the lower ends, which are bent inward toward each other, and are preferably provided with shallow notches a. The cross-head is made-with one end, a bent to form a concave on its under side, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, while the other end, a, is bent clear around, bringing the edges together to present a tubular form. This fastening is made of suitable sheet metal, from which a blank, B, of the form substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is out, and the edges then bent or formed by any suitable 6 5 mechanism into the fastening shaped as described above.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 0 represents the fabric of the gore, and D the coiled metal spring of an elastic gore-such as is described in Patent No. 238,100, mentioned aboveand my improved fastening is shown applied to the spring. The notched free ends of the fastening are closed or clamped upon the end of the wire coil, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the draW- 7 5 ings, andthc T-head is arranged in the margin beyond, so that the concave arm a will rest over and on the adjoining bent end of the coil, where it turns from one pocket into the next. The other or tubular end, a, is fastened in the margin by strong stitching. Now, it is obvious that the end of the coil will be sofirmly gripped between the notched ends of the fastening that it cannotbe pulled out without destroying the coil, while the T-head of the fast- 8 5 ening resists the pull made by stretching the coil, partly by one end resting on the adjoining bend of the coil and partly by the stitching at the other end. This brings so little strain upon the stitching as to substantially 0 remove all danger of its breaking away, and the fastening of the end of the coil is therefore permanent and durable.

In the above description I have set forth the application of this fastening to a peculiar arrangeinent of the spring-coil; but it is obvious that it may be applied to a different arrangement of coilsuch, for instance, as that shown in the Letters Patent No. 238,101, or any other construction or arrangement in which the ends of the coil are to be fastened to the fabric. In some of these instances it willnot be necessary to make one of the arms of the crosshead concave, as described above; but both may be tubular, or of any other form which will give a sufficiently extended surface for strongstitching, or other means of securely fastening the cross-head to the fabric. I do not wish to be understood, therefore, aslimiting my improvement to the precise form of fastening. shown, or to its application to the precise arrangement ofthe wire coil shown in the drawings, although this special application is one of the objects of my improvement.

Having thus described my invention, what I 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A metallic fastening for elastic gores and other like articles, consisting of a divided body adapted to be closed on the ends of the spring, and a cross-head having a projecting arm, whereby the device may be securely fastened to the fabric, substantially as described.

2. A T-headed fastening, A, composed of the two clamping-jaws a and the cross-head at their fixed ends, in combination with the fabric (1, stitched around one arm of the crosshead, and the coiled metal spring D, the end of which is clasped between the ends of the jaws, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the fabric 0, having the continuous spring-coil D, the fastening A, composed of the grip-jaws a, and the crosshead, one arm, (6 of which is constructed and arranged to rest upon the adjoining bend in the coil, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS H. BALL.

\Vitnesses:

\V. C. CORLIES, A. M. Bnsr. 

